Apparatus for coiling cable and the like



Feb. 22, 1966 .1. H. SHORT ETAL APPARATUS FOR COILING CABLE AND THE LIKE4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1965 INVENTORS JOHN H -5Haer Jaw/vGEM/55965 572M092 & 6/5905 7'7'0/EA/ES/ Feb. 22, 1966 J- H. SHORT ET ALAPPARATUS FOR COILING CABLE AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filgi March 6,1963 ET AL APPARATUS FOR COILING CABLE AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1963J. H. SHORT Feb. 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 22, 1966 SHORT ETAL3,236,467

APPARATUS FOR COILING CABLE AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR5 L/OHN H 614027 Joy/v Gem/55265 5.2 47- @eA/es United StatesPatent 3,236,467 APPARATUS FOR COILIN G CABLE AND THE LIKE John H.Short, Downey, Calif., and John Grinbergs and Steinar K. Gjerde,Seattle, Wash., assignors to Western Gear Corporation, Lynwood, Calif.,a corporation of Washington Filed Mar. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 263,159 17Claims. (Cl. 24254) This invent-ion relates generally to the art ofwinding cable into coils for convenience of handling, storage, andtransportation. The invention relates more particularly to an improvedmachine for coiling cable.

It is common practice in the cable industry to store and transport longcontinuous lengths of cable in large storage or take-up tanks in whichthe cable is coiled, layer upon layer, to form a large cable coilcontained or enclosed by the tank walls. Submarine telephone andtelegraph cable, for example, is frequently stored on board cable-layingships in this way. During the actual cablelaying operation, the cable ispayed out along the ocean floor from the take-up tanks.

A primary application of the present invention is Winding or coilingcable into large take-up tanks of the kind discussed above. For thisreason, the invention is disclosed herein in connection with thisparticular application. It will become readily evident to those skilledin the art as the description proceeds, however, that the invention iscapable of other uses and applications. Accordingly, it should beunderstood at the outset that the particular cable-coiling applicationwith respect to which the invention is discussed in the ensuingdescription is intended to be purely illustrative and not limitative ofthe possible applications of the invention.

It should be further understood that the term cable is use-d in itsbroadest sense in the following description and claims. Thtat is to say,the term cable as used herein is intended to encompass all forms ofcables or cable-like elements, such as hose, rope, wire, flexible pipe,tubing, and so forth.

This invention has as its general object, then, to provide a new andimproved machine for coiling flexible cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cablecoiling machine inwhich each successive turn of cable is placed or coiled with greatprecision alongside the previous turn and with the proper tension orcompression to create a very neat, compact, and uniform cable coil.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cable-coilingmachine which can handle any length of cable within the limits of thecable take-up or storage facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cablecoiling machinewherein the cable is coiled by a rotating, vertically floating cabledistributor which rides on the uppermost layer of the cable coil andacts as a holddown for the upper turns of the coil.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will presentthemselves to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

Briefly, the objects of the invention are attained by providing acable-coiling machine equipped with a rotary, power driven cabledistributor which turns about and is vertically movable along a verticalrotation axis. In operation of the coiling machine, this distributor isdisposed over a horizontal supporting surface on which the cable is tobe coiled. According to the illustrative embodiment of the invention,this surface is the bottom annular wall of a cable take-up tank of thekind mentioned earlier. Along the outer and inner circular edges of thisbottom wall are the outer and inner cylindrical walls of the take-3,236,467 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 up tank. tributor has an annular framewhich fits within the annular take-up tank interior and about the innercylindrical tank wall and is driven in rotation by friction drive wheelsengaging the latter wall. The entire distributor is free to move up anddown along this inner tank Wall.

Carried on the rotary cable distributor is a cable receiver and feederincluding an inclined cable guide with an upper entrance portion abovethe distributor and a lower exit tip which opens to the underside of thedistributor generally tangentially of and in a direction opposing thedirection of rotation of the distributor. The cable to be coiled isthreaded through the guide until its end protrudes beyond the exit tipof the guide and this end of the cable is secured in some way to thecable takeup facility. Also included in the cable receiver and feeder isa cable feeding mechanism for feeding the cable longitudinally throughthe cable guide as the distributor rotates.

Supporting the cable receiver and feeder is a reciprocating traversemechanism on the cable distributor. This traverse mechanism reciprocatesthe cable receiver and feeder as the distributor rotates, in such mannerthat the exit tip of the cable guide moves back and forth along asubstantially radial direction line of the distributor.

During operation of the coiling machine, the cable feed mechanism andthe traverse mechanism are driven in unison with rotation of the cabledistributor in such manner that the cable is wound in a series of spirallayers, one on top of the other, on the lower supporting surface of thecable take-up facility or tank. The direction of movement of thetraverse mechanism reverses between each layer so that one layer ofcable is wound from the outside toward the center of the cable coil andthe next layer is wound from the center toward the outside of the coil.

The cable distributor rides on the uppermost layer of the coil, therebyserving as a holddown for the turns of the coil. The distributor thusrises as the number of layers increases. In the case of a take-up tank,a removable drum extension is placed on the top of the inner tank wallto receive the distributor during coiling of the final layers, therebyto permit the tank to be completely lled.

A highly important feature of the invention resides in the fact that thelinear speed at which the cable is fed through the cable guide relativeto the rotary speed of the distributor is automatically regulated at theend of each radial sroke of the cable guide exit tip to create acompression force in the cable when winding from the outside toward thecenter of the coil and a tension force when winding from the centertoward the outside. In this way, a neat, highly compact, and uniformlywound cable coil is produced.

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to theattached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present cable coiling machine, showing thelatter in operative position within a cable take-up tank;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged vertical section through the upper end of theinner tank structure illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is an enlargement, partly in section, of the area encircled bythe arrow 4a in FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of one of thecable distributor supporting rollers illustrated in FIG. 1;

In this illustrative embodiment, the cable dis- FIG. 6 is an end view ofthe roller structure illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view, on reduced scale, similar to FIG. 6, illustrating amodified supporting roller structure embodied in the cable distributor;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the cable feeder embodied in thecable distributor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section taken on line 1111 in FIG. 9.

Referring now to these drawings, numeral 30 (FIG. 3) denotes a cablestorage or take-up tank of the kind mentioned earlier. This tankincludes an annular bottom wall 32 which, in the normal position of thetank, rests on a horizontal supporting surface 34. Joined to and risingfrom the outer edge of the bottom wall 32 is the outer cylindrical wall36 of the tank. Joined to and rising from the inner edge of the bottomwall 32 is the inner cylindrical wall 38 of the tank. Take-up tank 30,therefore, has a generally annular configuration defining an annularstorage space 40 within the tank.

According to the present invention, a continuous length of cable iscoiled in the take-up tank 30, in a series of spiral layers, one on topof the other, by a cable distributor 42. Cable distibutor 42 comprises agenerally annular frame 44 (FIG. 1) proportioned to fit within theannular storage space 40 of tank 30 and about the inner tank wall 38.Distributor frame 44 can be made in various ways. This frame has beenshown, however, as comprising an outer ring 46, having an outsidediameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the take-up tank Wall36, an inner ring 48, having an internal diameter slightly greater thanthe outside diameter of the inner takeup tank wall 38, and a series ofradially extending, circumferentially spaced structural members orspokes 50 joining the outer and inner rings. From this description, itis evident that the distributor frame 44 can fit within the take-up tank30 in the manner just described.

Secured to and extending about the inner ring 48 of the cabledistributor frame 44 are a pair of axially spaced, generally polygonalflanges 51. These flanges, which may be welded to the inner ring 48, forexample, have a plurality of straight sides located between the radialstructural members 50, as shown.

Uniformly spaced about the inner distributor ring 48 are two idler wheelassemblies 52 and a single drive wheel assembly 54. Idler wheelassemblies 52 are identical and each comprises a rubber-tired idlerwheel 55 arranged on an axis parallel to the distributor axis. Idlerrollers 55 project between the flanges 51 and through openings in theinner distributor ring 48 into engagement with the inner tank wall 38.Each idler wheel 55 is rotatably supported on a wheel cover 56. One endof each wheel cover 56 is pivotally attached to a bracket 58 having abase 59 secured to the outer edges of the inner ring flanges 51. Theopposite end of each wheel cover 56 projects into the interior of acylindrical spring enclosure 60 through a slot in the side wall of theenclosure. One end of this enclosure is attached to the outer edges ofthe inner ring flanges 51.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is a threaded stem 62 extending axiallythrough the cylindrical spring enclosure 60 and threadedly engaged in anut 63 fixed in one end wall 64 of the enclosure. On the opposite end ofthe stem 62, exteriorly of the spring enclosure 60, is a handle 65 bywhich the stem may be rotated to axially move the latter. The adjacentend of the wheel cover 56 is apertured to receive the stem 62.Encircling the stem is a coil spring 66 which seats at one end againstthe adjacent end of the wheel cover 56 and at the opposite end against aspring seat 68 fixed on the stem 62.

From this description, it is evident that the idler Wheels 55 are springloaded against the inner tank wall 38 by their respective springs 66. Itis further evident that the pressure of the idler rollers against thetank wall may be adjusted by rotating the spring-adjusting handle of therespective idler wheel assemblies.

The drive wheel assembly 54 comprises a rubber-tired wheel (FIG. 2)which projects through the space between the inner ring flanges 51 andan opening in the inner distributor ring 48 into frictional contact withthe inner take-up tank wall 38. Drive wheel 70 is rotatably supported ona carriage 72 which, in turn, is slidably supported on rods 74 formovement toward and away from the inner tank wall 38. The ends of theserods are fixed to a supporting structure 76 mounted between two adjacentradical members 50 of the distributor frame 44. Mounted on thesupporting structure 76, outwardly of and in axial alignment with thecenter line of the drive wheel carriage 72, is a flanged nut 78 in whichis threaded an adjusting screw 80. The opposite end of the adjustingscrew 80 is secured to the drive wheel carriage 72 by means of a bearing82. Fixed on the adjusting screw 80 is a h'andw'heel 84 by which theadjusting screw may be rotated to advance the drive wheel carriage 72toward or retract the carriage away from the inner tank wall 38.

Referring to FIG. 2, the drive wheel 70 is keyed on the lower end of ashaft 86 which is rotatably supported at its upper and lower ends in thedrive wheel carriage 72, in the manner shown in the latter figure. Theupper end of shaft 86 is driven from a speed reducer 88 having a powerinput shaft 90. This shaft is driven by a motor 92 mounted on thesupporting structure 76 (FIG. 1).

From the description thus far, it is evident that the entire cabledistributor 42 is driven in rotation about the inner take-up tank wall38 by the motor 92 through its drive wheel 70. Since the idler wheels 54and the drive wheel 70 are disposed in simple frictional contact withthe tank wall 38, it is obvious that the entire distributor assembly 42can slide up and down along the tank wall. As discussed earlier, andhereinafter more fully described, this vertical movability of thedistributor on the inner tank wall allows the distributor to float orride on the uppermost layer of the cable coil being formed and to risealong the inner tank wall as successive layers are added to the coil.

To the end that the cable distributor 42 may ride smoothly and uniformlyover the uppermost layer of the cable coil, the distributor frame 44mounts a series of spring-loaded rollers 96 and 98. These rollers areattached to the radial structural members 50 of the frame. As shown,there are a number of each of the rollers 96 and 98 spaced about thedistributor frame. Rollers 96 and 98 are substantially identical anddiffer only in the details discussed below.

Referring to FIGS. 57 each of the rollers 96 comprises a bracket 100having a lower, vertical base portion 102 which seats against and isbolted to the respective dis tributor frame member 50. Pivotally mountedon and disposed at opposite sides of this base are a pair of rollersupporting arms 104 which pivot on the base about an axis 106substantially parallel to and extending radially of the distributorframe 44. Disposed between the outer ends of and rotatably supported onthe arms 104 is a roller 108. This roller will be observed to tapertoward each end.

The roller bracket 100 includes, further, two spaced, parallel arms 110which extend upwardly from and at an angle to the bracket base 102 andover the roller 108. Disposed between and pivotally supported on theends of the bracket arms 110 is a guide bar 1'12. A cross member 114extends between and is pivotally attached to the roller supporting arms104 below the guide bar 112. Extending slidably through the guide bar112, adjacent its ends, are two shafts 116 which are secured, at theirlower ends, to the cross member 114. Sl-idably positioned on the shaft116 is a crossbar 118, through the center of which is threaded a bolt120. The lower end of this bolt seats against the cross member 114.Positioned 0 .1 the shafts 116, between the guide bar 112 and thecrossbar 118, are coil springs 122. Coil springs 122 urge the crossbar118, and thereby the roller-supporting arms 104 and the roller 108, inthe downward direction. It is evident, therefore, that the roller 108can swing upwardly, about its pivot axis 106, against the bias ofsprings 122. Upward movement of the roller is limited by engagement ofthe bolt 120 with a stop screw 124 threaded centrally through the guidebar 1 12.

The rollers 98 are identical with the rollers 96 thus far described.Rollers 96 differ from rollers 98 in that the former have the followingadditional structure. Integrally formed on the center of a crosspiece125 joined at its ends to the roller supporting arms are a .pair ofupstanding bearing posts 126, between which is rotatably supported aroller 128. Roller 128 is engageable by a cam 130 fixed to a shift 132.Shaft 132 extends through and is journaled in the roller bracket arms110 adjacent the bracket base 102. Fixed to one end of the shaft 132 isa crank 134 by which the cam 130 may be turned between the solid lineposition of FIG. 6, wherein the cam 130 engages the roller 128, and thephantom line position of that figure wherein the cam clears the roller.Rotation of the cam 130 toward its solid line extended position islimited by engagement of a stop screw 136 on the crank 134 with one faceof an abutment 138 on the roller bracket 100. Rotation of the cam 130toward its phantom line retracted position is limited by engagement ofthe crank 134 itself with a second face of the abutment 138. Connectedbetween the crank 134 and the roller bracket 100 is a spring 140 whichpasses through a dead-center position with respect to the crank pivotaxis during swinging of the crank between these two positions of cam 130and acts to yieldably retain the cam 130 in each of these positions.

When the crank 134 is turned to rotate the cam 130 to its phantom lineretracted position, the roller 108 is free to move upwardly, against theaction of its biasing springs 122, and the roller 96 functions inprecisely the same way as the rollers 98. When the crank 134 is turnedto rotate the cam 130 to its solid line extended position, the camengages the cam roller 128 and thereby locks the roller 108 in its lowerposition. The purpose of these various elements of the rollers 96 willbe explained shortly.

Returning now again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the cable distributor 42 includesa cable receiver and feeder 142 and a reciprocating traverse mechanism144 for driving the receiver 142 back and forth along the directionlines indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. The traverse mechanism 144comprises two spaced, parallel guide rods 146 secured at opposite endsto the cable distributor frame 44 in the manner shown. Midway betweenand parallel to the guide rods 146 is a so-called diamond lead screw148. One end of this lead screw is journaled in a bearing 150 mounted onthe distributor frame 44. The opposite end of the lead screw 148 isjournaled in the housing of a gear reducer 152 mounted on thedistributor frame.

The power input shaft 153 of the gear reducer 152 is driven, through abelt drive 154, from the output shaft of an electrically controllable,variable speed drive unit 156. While various types of variable speeddrive units may be used on the cable distributor, at this point, asocalled P.I.V. variable speed drive unit has been found to be highlyadvantageous in the present application. The input shaft 157 of thevariable speed drive unit 156 is drivably coupled to a lead screw driveroller assembly 158 by a drive shaft 160.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lead screw drive roller assembly 158 comprisesa rubber-tired friction wheel 161 which projects between the flanges 51of the distributor frame and through an opening in the inner distributorframe ring 48 into frictional contact with the inner takeup tank wall38. Friction wheel 161 is rotatably supported in a wheel cover 162 whichis pivotally attached at one end to a bracket 164. Bracket 164 isattached to the outer edges of the inner frame ring flanges 51. Theopposite end of the wheel cover 162 is pivotally attached to a block 164slidably positioned on a sleeve 166. Extending through the sleeve 166 isa threaded shaft 168, one end of which is pivotally attached to abracket 170 attached to the outer edges of the inner frame ring flanges51. A handwheel 172 is rotatably mounted on one end of the sleeve 166and is threadably engaged with the shaft 168. About the sleeve 166 is acoil spring 174 which seats at one end against a flange on the end ofthe sleeve and at its opposite end against the slide block 164.

From this description, it is evident that the spring 174 urges the wheelcover 162, and thereby the friction wheel 161, toward the inner take-uptank wall 38. Thus, the frictional contact between the friction wheel161 and the inner tank wall 38 can be adjusted by rotation of thehandwheel 17 2.

Friction wheel 161 is keyed to a shaft 176 which is journaled at one endin the wheel cover 162 and at its opposite end in the housing of a bevelgear unit 178. Within this unit are bevel gears which drivably couplethe wheel shaft 176 to the drive shaft 160.

From the preceding description of the traverse mechanism, it is obviousthat when the cable distributor 42 is driven in rotation about thecenter take-up tank wall 38, by operation of the distributor drive motor92, the friction drive roller 161 of the lead screw drive rollerassembly 158 is driven in rotation in synchronism with rotation of thecable distributor by virtue of the frictional contact between the latterwheel and the inner take-up tank wall 38. This rotation of the frictionwheel 161 is transmitted to the lead screw 148 through the gear unit178, drive shaft 160, variable speed unit 156, and the gear reducer 152.The rotational speed of the lead screw 148 with respect to therotational speed of the cable distributor is adjustable by control ofthe variable speed unit 156, in the manner hereinafter described.

Returning now to the cable receiver and feeder 142, the latter comprisesa carriage 180 including sleeve bearings 182 which are slidablysupported on the guide rods 146. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, thiscarriage is bolted to a cam follower housing 184 slidably received onthe diamond lead screw 148. Carried internally of the cam followerhousing 184 is a cam follower 186 which engages in the double helixgrooves 187 of the lead screw. The operation of a diamond lead screw ofthis type is well known in the art and is such that during rotation ofthe lead screw, the cam follower housing 184 is driven back and forthalong the lead screw from one end of the screw to the other.Accordingly, during rotation of the lead screw by the lead screw driveroller assembly 158, the cable receiver and feeder carriage 180, andthereby the cable receiver and feeder 142 thereon, are driven orreciprocated back and forth along the guide rods 146.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the cable feeder and receiver comprisesa frame 188 which is bolted to the carriage 180 and mounts a cable feedmotor 190. The shaft of motor 190 is coupled to the input shaft of agear reducer 192. The output shaft of this reducer mounts a resilientcable feed roller 194. Roller 194 is enclosed within a lower feederhousing 196 secured to the receiver-feeder frame 188. Lower feederhousing 196 comprises upright side walls 198 and end walls 200 joiningthese side walls. The upper edges of these side and end walls of thelower feeder housing terminate just slightly below the upper edge of thelower feeder roller 194. Above the lower feeder housing 196 is an upperfeeder housing 202 having side walls 204 joined by end walls 206. Theupper feeder housing 202 is connected to the lower feeder housing byhinges 208. The upper feeder housing 202 can, therefore, be hinged withrespect to the lower housing about the pivot axis of the hinges 208.

At each end of the lower feeder housing 202 are pairs of transverselyaligned plates 210 which are welded or otherwise rigidly joined to theupper edges of the side walls 198 and adjacent end wall 200 of the lowerhousing. The inner, opposing edges of each of these plate pairs arespaced and are welded to a semicylindrical element 212. Above each platepair 210 is a second pair of plates 214 which are welded or otherwiserigidly joined to the side walls 204 and adjacent end wall 206 of theupper feeder housing 202. The inner, opposing ends of each of theselatter plate pairs are spaced and welded to a second semicylindricalelement 216.

The semicylindrical elements 212 and 216 are transversely and axiallyaligned so that when the upper feeder housing 202 is hinged to itsclosed position of FIG. 10, the cylindrical elements 212 and 216 formtwo coaxial guide sleeves for the cable to be coiled. These guidesleeves can be opened by hinging the upper feeder housing 202 to itsopen position and then reclosed by hinging the upper housing to itsclosed position. The upper feeder housing 202 is retained in its closedposition by bolts 218 inserted through holes in the plates 210 and 214,as shown.

The upper feeder housing 202 includes a cover 220 which encloses theupper half of and rotatably supports a resilient idler roller 222.Roller 222 projects through the open top of the upper feeder housing 202to a position opposite the lower cable feed roller 194. Cover 220 ishinged at one end at 224 to the upper feeder housing 202. The other endof the cover 220 carries a hinged nut 26 which is threaded on a shaft28. The lower end of shaft 228 is pivotally and rotatably secured to theadjacent end of the lower feeder housing 196. Fixed to the upper end ofthe shaft 228 is a handwheel 230 by which the shaft may be rotated tomove the cover 220, and thereby the idler roller 222, toward and awayfrom the lower cable feed roller 194.

As will be described shortly, the cable C to be coiled passes betweenthe resilient friction rollers 194, 222. The upper roller 222 isadjusted, by means of the handwheel 230, so that the cable is firmlygripped between the opposing peripheries of the rollers, as shown.Accordingly, when the lower roller 194 is driven in rotation by itsmotor 190, the cable is fed longitudinally through the cable receivingand feeder assembly 142. The direction in which the cable moves isindicated by the arrow in the drawings.

Fixed at one end to the cable receiver and feeder 142, in axialalignment with the cylindrical guide formed by the semicylindricalelements 212 and 216 at the entrance side of the feeder housings 196,202, is a cable entrance guide 232. The opposite end of this sleeve isflared, as shown, to facilitate entrance of the cable into the sleeve.Fixed to the exit end of the feeder housings 196, 202, in coaxialalignment with the cylindrical cable guide formed by the adjacentsemicylindrical elements 212, 216, is an exit cable guide 236. This exitsleeve approaches the plane of the undersurface of the cable distributor42 generally tangentially and terminates in an exit tip 238 locatedapproximately in or just slightly above the aforementioned plane. Theexit tip 238 also opens generally tangentially to and in a directionopposing the direction of rotation of the distributor and terminatesapproximately on a radius of the distributor frame parallel to the guiderods 146 of the traverse mechanism 144. During reciprocation of thecable receiver-feeder carriage 180, therefore, the exit tip 238 movesback and forth in a general radial direction of the cable distributor.

Briefly, during operation of the coiling machine described above, themain cable distributor drive motor 92 is energized to rotate thedistributor drive roller 70 and thereby drive the cable distributor 42in rotation about the inner wall 38 of the cable take-up tank 30.Rotation of the distributor drives the diamond lead screw 148 of thetraverse mechanism 144 through the intermediate drive action of the leadscrew drive roller assembly 158. R- tation of the lead screw 148reciprocates the cable feeder assembly 142 along its guide rods 146 insynchronism with rotation of the cable distributor. Simultaneously, thecable feeder drive motor is energized to feed the cable C longitudinallythrough the exit tip 238 of the feeder assembly into the take-up tank.These component motions of the cable distributor are so timed that thecable is wound or coiled in a series of spiral layers located one on topof the other. The supporting rollers 108 for the cable distributor rideon the turns of cable in the uppermost layer of the coil. As a result,the cable distributor slowly rises as the number of coil layersincreases.

In order to permit the take-up tank 30 to be completely filled withcable, it is necessary that the cable distributor 42 rise to a pointabove the cable take-up tank 30. To this end, the invention provides anauxiliary extension 240 (FIG. 3a) for the inner wall 38 of the takeuptank 30. Referring to FIG. 31:, extension 240 comprises a cylindricaldrum having a cylindrical wall 242 of approximately the same externaldiameter as the inner take-up tank wall 38. About the lower edge of theextension wall 242 is an internal annular flange 244. When placed inoperative position on the take-up tank, the lower flange 244 of theextension rests on an internal flange 246 about the upper edge of thetank wall 38. The extension 240 is retained in coaxial alignment withthe tank wall 38 by means of dowel pins 248 fixed in the extensionflange 244 and engaging in holes in the tank wall flange 246. Thus, thecable distributor 42 can travel vertically from the inner wall 38 of thetake-up tank 30 to the cylindrical wall 242 of the extension 240.

Electrical power for the cable distributor drive motor 92 and the cablefeed motor 190 is supplied through an electrical cable 250 carried bythe tank wall extension 240 and terminating at its lower end in anelectrical plug (not shown) for connection to a source of electricalpower. Cable 250 connects to the stationary part 254 of a slip ringassembly 256 coaxially mounted on the extension 240. The rotary part 258of this slip ring assembly is attached to one end of a boom 260 whichextends radially across the top of the extension and beyond one sidethereof. Hinged to this extending end of the boom is a depending drivearm 262, the lower end of which is releasably drivably coupled by means264 to the distributor frame 44. An electrical cable 266 is attached tothe boom 260 and the drive arm 262 and is electrically connected to thepower input cable 250 through the slip ring assembly 256. Cable 266 iselectrically connected to the distributor drive motor 92 and the cablefeed motor 190 in the manner described below.

From this description, it is evident that the releasable drive couplingmeans 264 on the cable distributor 42 drives the boom 260, and therebythe electrical cable 266 and rotary slip ring part 258 attached to theboom, in rotation through the drive arm 262 on the boom. Thus, the boom260 and electrical cable 266 attached thereto continuously rotate withthe cable distributor 42 so as to provide a continuous flow ofelectrical power to the distributor drive motor and the cable feedmotor. As the distributor rises along the inner tank wall 38 and theextension 240, the boom 260 swings upwardly to accommodate such verticalmovement of the distributor.

In order to produce a neat, compact, and uniformly wound cable coil withthe present cable coiling machine, it is necessary to maintain a lightcompressive force in the cable when the latter is being wound from theoutside of the coil toward the center and a light tension force in thecable when the latter is being wound from the inside of the coil towardthe outside. The manner in which this is accomplished in the presentcoiling machine will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.

The speed of the main distributor drive motor 92 is controlled by avariable speed control circuit including a tachometer 268 for Sensingthe speed of motor 92, a tachometer 270 for sensing the speed of thecable feed motor 190, and a control unit 272 electrically connected tothese tachometers and to the motor 92 for comparing the speed of themotors 92, 190 and regulating the speed of motor 92 to drive the cabledistributor 42 in rotation at a rate related to the linear speed atwhich the cable C is fed through the cable guide 236. Also included inthis speed control circuit are means including two limit switches 274and 276 on the distributor 44 and actuated by the cable feeder 142 atthe ends of its stroke, respectively, for changing the relative speed atwhich the cable distributor 42 is driven in rotation relative to thelinear speed of the cable C. These speed change means, which maycomprise any means suitable for the purpose, cause the cable distributorto rotate at a tangential speed which is slightly slower than the cablespeed during the radially inward strokes of the cable feeder and at atangential speed which is slightly in excess of the cable speed duringthe radially outward strokes of the cable feeder. Actuation of the limitswitches 274, 276 by the cable feeder 142 at the ends of its strokestriggers the speed change means between these two states thereof. Asuitable memory may be built into the speed control circuitry to causethe latter to resume the proper cable distributor speed in the event themachine is shut down.

The operation of the machine will now be described. Before lowering thecable distributor 42 into the take-up tank 30, the cable feeder assembly142 is driven to the limit of its travel toward the outer periphery ofthe distributor to a position in which the limit switch 276 is tripped.The cable distributor supporting rollers 108 in the roller assemblies 96are latched in their lower positions. The cable distributor is nowplaced into the mouth of the take-up tank 30. Prior to lowering thedistributor to the bottom of the tank, however, the extension drum 240for the inner wall 38 of the take-up tank is placed in position on theupper end of the latter tank wall. After it is properly located byengagement of the dowels 248 in the holes in the tank flange 246, theextension is secured to the tank wall in any convenient way. The powersupply cable 250 is then connected in a suitable receptacle in the floorbelow the central opening in the take-up tank. Finally, the cabledistributor 42 is lowered into the take-up tank until its latchedsupporting rollers 108 rest on the bottom wall 34 of the tank.

The cable distributor idler rollers 54 and drive roller 70 and the leadscrew drive roller 160 are now urged against the inner tank wall 38 byadjustment of the roller adjusting means in their respective wheelassemblies. With the coiling machine thus conditioned for a coilingoperation, the cable C to be coiled is threaded through the entranceguide sleeve 232 of the cable feeder assembly 142, between the frictionrollers 194, 222 of this latter assembly, and through the exit guidesleeve 236 of the feeder assembly until a length of the cable extendsbeyond the tip 238 of the exit guide sleeve 236. This extending end ofthe cable is then attached to the take-up tank 30, as by inserting thecable end through a hole in the outer wall 36 of the take-up tank 30 andsecuring said end in place in some convenient way.

Actual operation of the machine is initiated by energizing the cabledistributor drive motor 92 and the cable feed motor 190. The cabledistributor 42 is now driven in rotation around the inner wall 38 of thetake-up tank 30 and the cable C is fed longitudinally through the cablefeeder assembly 142 and out the exit tip 238 of this assembly.Simultaneously, the feeder assembly 142 is driven slowly along its guiderods 146 inwardly of the cable distributor. This inward motion of thecable feeder assembly 142 is adjusted, by the variable speed unit 156,so that during each revolution of the cable distributor 42, the cablefeeder assembly 142 is advanced one pitch, i.e., one cable diameter.Accordingly, as the cable distributor continues to rotate, the cable iswound inwardly in a first spiral layer on the lower wall 34 of thetake-up tank 30. After a few turns of cable have been laid down, thelatched supporting rollers 96 are unlatched to permit the distributorframe 44 to settle down onto the cable to hold the latter in position.Part of the weight of the distributor is now carried through the springloaded rollers 96, 98 and part of the distributor weight is carried bythe distributor frame resting on the cable turns. The rollers 96 arelatched down initially to prevent excess load on the first few turns ofcable by the distributor frame.

When the exit tip 238 of the cable feeder assembly 142 has been advancedto its inner limiting position, wherein the innermost turn or coil ofthe first layer is wound adjacent the inner tank wall 38, the diamondlead screw 148 reverses the direction of the cable feeder assembly 142and the latter commences its reversed travel toward the outer peripheryof the cable distributor. During this outward travel of the feederassembly, a second spiral layer of cable is wound outwardly over thefirst cable layer. When the cable feeder assembly 142 again reaches theouter limit of its travel, the diamond lead screw 148 once againreverses the direction of travel of the feeder assembly and the lattercommences its inward movement during which a third spiral layer of cableis wound inwardly over the second layer. Thus, successive spiral layersof cable are wound or coiled one over the other, one layer being woundinwardly and the following layer being wound outwardly of the coil.

During the initial stages of coiling the first layer of cable on thelower floor 34 of the take-up tank 30, all of the cable distributorsupporting rollers 188 ride on the lower tank floor. Eventually, therollers ride up over the layer of cable progressively from the outsidetoward the inside in the first layer and then from the inside toward theoutside in the second layer and so forth. Since the coils or turns ofcable, in effect, approach the supporting rollers in the axialdirection, the rollers are tapered, as shown and as explained earlier,in order to facilitate movement of the rollers onto each successivelayer of cable. The frame 44 of the cable distributor 42 remainssubstantially at the same elevation during the time that the first fewrollers on the distributor ride up over each successive new layer ofcable. The biasing springs 122 for the rollers 108, of course,accommodate the resultant vertical displacement of the rollers withrespect to the distributor frame. Eventually, when a given number ofsupporting rollers are riding on the new layer of cable, the distributorcommences to rise as the remaining rollers ride up and over the cablelayer. Thus, the cable distributor in effect floats on the top of thecoil of cable and rises toward the top of the take-up tank as eachsuccessive layer of cable is coiled in the tank. Eventually, thedistributor moves from the inner tank wall 38 onto the inner wallextension 240, the last few layers of cable being coiled in the tankwhile the distributor rotates on this extension. In this way, thetake-up tank 30 can be completely filled with cable.

Returning now to the start of the cable coiling operation, it will berecalled that the cable feeder assembly 142 is initially placed in itsouter limiting position wherein the limit switch 276 is tripped.Accordingly, during coiling of the first layer of cable on the lowertank floor 34, the distributor drive motor 92 rotates the cabledistributor 42 at a tangential speed slightly less than the speed atwhich the cable is being fed through the cable feeder assembly 142. Thecable feed motor 190, running at constant speed, provides the additionaldriving force necessary to rotate the cable distributor at the requiredspeed. This additional driving force is, of course, exerted on the cabledistributor through the cable itself. As a result, a compressive forceis maintained in the cable when the latter is being wound or coiled fromthe outside toward the center of the coil. This compressive forceretains the successive turns of the cable in proper compact relation.The cable distributor supporting rollers 108, riding as they do on theuppermost turns of the cable, act as holddowns for the cable turns.

11 When the cable feeder assembly 142 reaches the inner limit of itstravel, it trips the limit switch 274. As discussed earlier, actuationof this limit switch operates the control system of the coiling machineto increase the speed of the distributor drive motor 92 until the cabledistributor 42 tends to be driven at a slightly greater tangentialvelocity than the speed at which the cable is fed through the cablefeeder assembly 142. As a result, a tension force is maintained in thecable as the latter is wound from the inside toward the outside of thecable coil. This tension in the cable, again, maintains the successiveturns of the cable in proper compact relation.

Thus, on each successive inward stroke of the cable feeder assembly 142to wind a layer of cable inwardly over the previous layer, a compressiveforce is maintained in the cable to retain the successive turns of thecable in compact relation. Similarly, during each outward stroke of thecable feeder assembly to wind a layer of cable outwardly over theprevious layer, a tension force is maintained in the cable to retain thesuccessive turns of the cable in proper compact relation. This actionresults in a very neat, highly compact, and completely uniform cablecoil.

At the completion of the coiling operation, the inner wall extension 240and the cable distributor 42 are removed from the take-up tank.

Clearly, therefore, the invention hereinbefore described and illustratedis fully capable of attaining the several objects and advantagespreliminary set forth.

Numerous modifications in the design, arrangement of parts, andinstrumentalities of the invention are, of course, possible within thespirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a rotary frame having a normally vertical axis of rotation and anopening on said axis to receive a cylindrical support for the frame;

a multiplicity of rollers including a friction roller mounted on saidframe about said opening with their axes substantially parallel withsaid rotation axis of said frame and their peripheries protruding intosaid opening for engagement with said support;

means for driving said friction roller in rotation;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to one side of said frame and means for longitudinally feeding acable through said guide toward said exit end; and

means for reciprocating said exit end of said guide relative to and insynchronism with rotation of said frame in such manner that the relativemovement of said exit end of said guide with respect to said frameoccurs substantially along a generally radial direction line of saidframe and said exit end progressively advances a given uniform distancealong said direction line during each revolution of said frame.

2. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

an annular, rotary frame having a central axis of rotation and includinginner and outer rings concentric with said axis and struts connectingsaid rings;

there being an axial opening through said inner ring to receive acylindrical support for said frame;

a multiplicity of rollers including a friction roller mounted on saidinner ring about said opening with their axes substantially parallel tosaid rotation axis and their peripheries protruding into said openingfor engagement with said support;

means for driving said friction roller in rotation;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to one side of said frame and means for longitudinally feeding acable through said guide toward said exit end; and

means for driving said feeder in translation with respect to and insynchronism with rotation of said frame in such manner that the movementof said exit end of said guide with respect to said frame occurssubstantially along a radial direction line of said frame and said exitend progressively advances a given uniform distance along said directionline during each revolution of said frame.

3. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a rotary frame having an axis of rotation;

means for driving said frame in rotation;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to one side of said frame and means for longitudinally feeding acable through said guide toward said exit end;

means slidably supporting said feeder on said frame for movement of saidexit end along a generally radial direction line of said frame between aposition adjacent the outer extremity of said frame and a positionadjacent said axis;

a double helix rotary lead screw on said frame drivably engaged withsaid feeder for reciprocating the latter between said positions uponrotation of said lead screw in one direction; and

means for driving said lead screw in rotation in synchronism Withrotation of said frame.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 including:

means for regulating the rotary speed of said lead screw relative to therotary speed of said frame.

5. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a rotary frame having an axis of rotation and an opening on said axis toreceive a support for said frame;

a multiplicity of rollers including a friction roller mounted on saidframe about said opening with their axes substantially parallel to saidrotation axis and their peripheries protruding into said opening forengagement with said support;

means for driving said friction roller in rotation;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to one side of said frame and means for longitudinally feeding acable through said guide toward said exit end;

means slidably supporting said feeder on said frame for movement of saidexit tip along a generally radial direction line of said frame between aposition adjacent the outer extremity of said frame and a positionadjacent said axis;

a double helix rotary lead screw on said frame drivably engaged withsaid feeder for reciprocating the latter between said positions uponrotation of said lead screw in one direction;

a second friction roller mounted on said frame about said opening withits axis parallel to said rotation axis and its periphery protrudinginto said opening for engagement with said support, whereby said secondroller is driven in rotation in synchronism with rotation of said frame;and

a transmission drivably coupling said second friction roller and saidlead screw, whereby the latter is driven by said second roller.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 wherein:

said transmission includes means for regulating the rotary speed of saidlead screw relative to the rotary speed of said second friction roller.

7. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a rotary frame having a normally vertical axis of rotation;

first drive means for driving said frame in rotation;

a cable feeder including a cable guide having an exit end opening to theunderside of said frame and second drive means for longitudinallyfeeding a cable through said guide toward said exit end;

means for reciprocating said exit end of said guide relative to and insynchronism with rotation of the frame in such manner that said exit endof said guide moves along a generally radial direction line of saidframe between a position adjacent the outer extremity of the frame and aposition adjacent said axis;

means for regulating the speed of one of said drive means, thereby toregulate the ratio of the linear speed of the cable through said cableguide to the rotary speed of said frame; and

frame supporting rollers on the underside of said frame.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 wherein:

said rollers are relatively long in comparison to their diameter andtaper to a smaller diameter toward each end.

9. The subject matter of claim 7 wherein:

said rollers are resiliently supported on said frame for verticalmovement relative to said frame, and certain of said rollers areuniformly spaced about said frame and comprise means for releasablylatching the respective rollers in their lower positions.

10. In combination:

an upright cylindrical support;

a frame mounted for rotation on and axial movement along said support;

a multiplicity of rollers including a friction roller on said frameabout and disposed in peripheral contact with said support, and meansfor driving said friction roller in rotation thereby to drive said framein rotation, said rollers being slidable along said support;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to the underside of said frame and means for longitudinallyfeeding a cable through said guide toward said exit end;

means mounting said guide on said frame for movement of said exit end ofsaid guide along a generally radial direction line of said frame betweena radially outer position and a radially inner position; and

means for reciprocating said guide between said positions in synchronismwith rotation of said frame.

11. In combination:

an annular cable tank including vertical, coaxial, in-

ner and outer cylindrical walls and an annular bottom wall joining thelower edges of said cylindrical walls;

a frame mounted for rotation on said inner wall and vertical movementalong the latter wall between a position within said tank adjacent saidbottom wall and a position adjacent the upper end of said inner wall;

means for driving said frame in rotation;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to the underside of said frame and means for longitudinallyfeeding a cable through said guide toward said exit end;

means mounting said guide on said frame for movement of said exit end ofsaid guide along a generally radial direction line of said frame betweena radially outer position and a radially inner position; and

means for reciprocating said guide between said positions in synchronismwith rotation of said frame.

12. The subject matter of claim 11 including:

a removable cylindrical extension on the upper end of and ofapproximately the same diameter as said inner tank wall to which saidframe may move axially from said inner tank wall.

13. In combination:

an annular cable tank including normally vertical, coaxial, inner andouter cylindrical walls and an annular bottom wall joining the loweredges of said cylindrical walls;

an annular frame having a central opening receiving said inner tank walland an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said outer tankwall;

a multiplicity of rollers including a friction roller mounted on saidframe about said opening with their axes parallel to the axis of theframe and their peripheries protruding into said opening into contactwith said inner tank wall;

means for driving said friction roller in rotation to rotate said frame;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an inlet endopening above said frame and an exit end opening below said framegenerally tangentially of and in a direction opposing the direction ofrotation of said frame and means for longitudinally feeding a cablethrough said guide toward said exit end thereof;

guides slidably supporting said feeder on said frame for reciprocationbetween an outer position wherein said exit end of said guide is locatedadjacent the periphery of the frame and an inner position wherein saidfeeder is located adjacent said opening;

a diamond lead screw rotatably supported in said frame and drivablyengaged with said feeder to reciprocate the latter between saidpositions; and

means for driving said lead screw in rotation in synchronism withrotation of said frame.

14. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a rotary frame having an axis of rotation;

means supporting said frame for rotation on said axis;

means for driving said frame in rotation;

a cable feeder including a carriage, a tubular cable guide on saidcarriage having an exit end opening to one side of said frame, feedrollers mounted on said carriage and disposed for peripheral drivingcontact with a cable in said guide, and means on said guide for drivingsaid rollers in rotation, thereby to longitudinally feed the cablethrough said guide toward said exit end;

means mounting said cable guide on said frame for rotation with saidframe and for movement relative to said frame in such manner that therelative movement of said exit end of said guide with respect to saidframe occurs along a generally radial direction line of said framebetween a position adjacent the outer extremity of said frame and aposition adjacent said axis; and

means on said frame for driving said cable guide in said relativemovement with respect to and in synchronism with rotation of said frame.

15. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a rotary frame having an axis of rotation;

means supporting said frame for rotation on said axis;

means including a motor on said frame for driving said frame inrotation;

a cable feeder including a carriage, a cable guide mounted on saidcarriage and having an exit end opening to one side of said frame, feedrollers mounted on said carriage and disposed for peripheral drivingcontact with a cable in said guide, and means on said carriage fordriving said rollers in rotation, thereby to longitudinally feed thecable through said guide toward said exit end;

means on said frame slidably supporting said carriage on said frame formovement of said carriage relative to said frame in such manner that therelative movement of said exit end of said guide with respect to saidframe occurs substantially along a radial direction line of said framebetween a position adpacent the outer extremity of said frame and aposition adjacent said axis; and

means on said frame for reciprocating said carriage in synchronism withrotation of said frame.

16. In combination:

an upright support;

a frame mounted on said support for rotation relative to and axialmovement along said support;

means coacting between said frame and support for driving said frame inrotation while permitting relatively free axial movement of said framealong said support;

a cable feeder on said frame including a cable guide having an exit endopening to the underside of said .15 frame and means for longitudinallyfeeding a cable through said guide toward said exit end;

means mounting said guide on said frame for movement of said exit end ofsaid guide along a generally radial direction line of said frame betweena radially outer position and a radially inner position; and

means for reciprocating said guide betwen said positions in synchronismwith rotation of said frame.

17. A cable coiling machine, comprising:

a cable receiver;

a frame;

means supporting said receiver and frame for relative rotation;

first drive means for driving said receiver and frame in relativerotation on a given axis;

a cable feeder mounted on said frame for movement relative to said framealong a direction line extending generally radially of said axis andincluding a tubular cable guide having an exit end opening toward saidreceiver, and second drive means for feeding a cable through said guidetoward said exit end thereof;

said cable feeder being radially movable relative to said receiver andframe between a radially outer position and a radially inner position;

one of said drive means comprising a variable speed drive means having afirst operating speed relative to a given operating speed of the otherdrive means at which the linear speed of the cable through said guide isslightly greater than the relative linear speed between said exit end ofsaid guide and said cable receiver when said cable feeder occupies saidradially outer position, and said variable speed drive means having asecond operating speed relative to said given operating speed of saidother drive means at which the linear speed of the cable through saidguide is slightly less than the relative linear speed between said exitend of said guide and said cable receiver when said cable feederoccupies said radially inner position;

means for reciprocating said cable feeder between said positions insynchronism with the relative rotation between said receiver and frame;

means responsive to movement of said cable feeder to said radially outerposition for conditioning said variable speed drive means to operate atsaid first operating speed during subsequent radial inward movement ofsaid cable feeder to said radially inner position; and

means responsive to movement of said cable feeder to said radially innerposition for conditioning said variable speed drive means to operate atsaid second operating speed during subsequent radial outward movement ofsaid cable feeder to said radially outer position. 4

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 374,209 12/1887Sims 24254 1,992,430 2/1935 Johnson 242-83 2,403,099 7/ 1946 Lear.

2,709,553 5/ 1955 Wellcome 24254 2,904,273 9/ 1959 Turner et al 242542,930,539 3/1960 Bremer 24254 3,042,336 7/1962 Krafft et a1 24283 MERVINSTEIN, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Examiner.

14. A CABLE COILING MACHINE, COMPRISING: A ROTARY FRAME HAVING AN AXISOF ROTATION; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ON SAID AXIS,MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FRAME IN ROTATION; A CABLE FEEDER INCLUDING ACARRIAGE, A TUBULAR CABLE GUIDE ON SAID CARRIAGE HAVING AN EXIT ENDOPENING TO ONE SIDE OF SAID FRAME, FEED ROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGEAND DISPOSED FOR PERIPHERAL DRIVING CONTACT WITH A CABLE IN SAID GUIDE,AND MEANS ON SAID GUIDE FOR DRIVING SAID ROLLERS IN ROTATION, THEREBY TOLONGITUDINALLY FEED THE CABLE THROUGH SAID GUIDE TOWARD SAID EXIT END;MEANS MOUNTING SAID CABLE GUIDE ON SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION WITH SAIDFRAME AND FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME IN SUCH MANNER THAT THERELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID EXIT END OF SAID GUIDE WITH RESPECT TO SAIDFRAME OCCURS ALONG A GENERALLY RADIAL DIRECTION LINE OF SAID FRAMEBETWEEN A POSITION ADJACENT THE OUTER EXTREMITY OF SAID FRAME AND APOSITION ADJACENT SAID AXIS; AND MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR DRIVING SAIDCABLE GUIDE IN SAID RELATIVE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO AN IN SYNCHRONISMWITH ROTATION OF SAID FRAME.